CLEVELAND, Miss. - Aspriona Gilbert hit a spinning layup with 20 seconds left to play, and a pair of Kaelin Kneeand free throws iced the game away as the Delta State University women's basketball team slipped past Lee University 60-56 in come-from-behind fashion in Gulf South Conference Action on Thursday.
 
Inside the Matchup:
    Score: Delta State 60 | Lee 56
    Records: Lady Statesmen (10-12, 7-10 GSC) | Lady Flames (16-7, 11-6 GSC)
    Series: The all-time series is tied 4-4
    Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum | Cleveland, Miss.

How It Happened:

• Lee opened the game on a 6-2 run, getting two of it's first three baskets in the low post from junior Carrie Cheeks. 
• An Alondrea Rush three-point bucket sparked a quick 5-2 run as Lee held the early 8-7 advantage. 
• Delta State missed their last five shots of the first quarter and the Lady Flames closed on a 7-0 run in holding a 17-10 lead after the opening period. 
• The Lady Statesmen erased the Lee lead with a 9-2 run to tie things up at 19, getting a three from rush and baskets by Kaelin Kneeland, Ieysha Mays and Anissa Jackson. 
• DSU took its first lead of the game, 23-22, on a pair of Aspriona Gilbert free throws with 2:40 to play before the half. 
• The Lady Statesmen lead, however, lasted just 26 seconds as Lee's Anna Woodford drilled her second three-pointer of the game.
• Both teams closed the second quarter on scoring droughts, with the visitors not scoring for the final 2:14 of the half, and Delta State going the final three minutes without a bucket. 
• Delta State shot 9-of-25 (36 percent) from the floor in the first half, including 2-for-4 from three-point land. The Lady Statesmen hit four of their six attempts from the free throw line. DSU was led by six points from Rush, while Gilbert had five points and two rebounds. Jackson, Kneeland and Mays each added four points. 
• Lee went 11-of-22 (50 percent) from the field, including 3-for-8 from distance. The Lady Flames got six points each from Cheeks and Woodford. Abby Bertram chipped in five points and Lindsey Roddy added four points. 
• Both teams traded buckets to the third quarter media timeout, as the score was knotted at 35 with 3:54 left in the stanza. 
• The Lady Flames held DSU scoreless over the final 4:51 of the third period, and took a 42-39 lead into the fourth quarter. 
• Lee kept the lead at multiple possessions before a pair of Kneeland free throws with 3:29 pulled DSU within three points. 
• On the ensuing possession, Gilbert converted a bucket, drew a foul and completed the three-point play to tie things up at 51-51 with 3:08 to play. 
• Delta State ratcheted up the defensive pressure in the final minute and scored the final seven points of the game, including a Carly Keller three-pointer that tied the game at 56 with 48 seconds to play.
• Aspriona Gilbert then hit a spinning layup with 20 seconds left to play to give the Lady Statesmen a 58-56 lead. 
• Lee missed a pair of rushed three pointers with 10 seconds to go, and a pair of Kaelin Kneeland free throws iced the game away for the Lady Statesmen.
• Delta State shot 19-for-46 for the game (41 percent), including going 3-of-7 (43 percent) from three-point range. DSU went 19-of-24 (79 percent) at the free throw line for the game. Lee was 22-of-49 (45 percent) from the field and 7-of-21 (33 percent) from three point range, while hitting five of its six attempts at the free throw line. 
• Gilbert led the way for Delta State with a career-high 19 points. Kneeland had 13 points, three rebounds and five assists, and Rush added 12 points, two rebounds, three assists and four steals.
• Lee was led by 16 points from Lindsey Roddy, and Woodford added 11 points including 3-of-4 shooting from three. Carrie Cheeks added 10 points and seven rebounds for the visitors. 

Notables:          

• The Lady Statesmen led for 26 seconds in first half and just 1:34 for the game. 
• Delta State scored 19 points off of 15 turnovers by the Lady Flames. 
• The Lady Statesmen outscored lee 21-14 in the fourth quarter.
• DSU had a season-low six turnovers. 
• Delta State shot 15-of-18 (83 percent) from the free throw line in the second half. 

   
Who's Next:

• The Lady Statesmen close their five game homestand with a tilt against Shorter at Walter Sillers Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. Delta State then goes on the road for a Feb. 16 contest at Union and then returns home for Senior Day on Feb. 18 against Christian Brothers.